Rep. Jay Xiong
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Lindy Sowmick
989-289-8593 (cell) or lindy.sowmick@house.mn
February 3, 2022
Rep. Xiong supports extension of COVID-19 workers’ comp presumption for public safety and healthcare workers
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, the Minnesota House approved legislation extending the COVID-19 presumption for workers’ compensation. The law provides a presumption that if public safety or health care workers contract COVID-19, they did so during the course of their employment and are covered by workers’ compensation.
Rep. Jay Xiong (DFL – Saint Paul) issued the following statement:
“We may no longer be in lockdown, but the challenges that our frontline workers face are ever-present. It was so important for us to pass this extension so that we can continue to best ensure the safety of our healthcare workers, emergency responders, and child care providers.” said Rep. Jay Xiong, “The burden that our frontline workers have to bear in response to COVID-19 at the bare minimum should qualify them for worker’s comp if they contract the virus. This bill extension is just common sense, and I’m pleased that we were able to pass it through the House.”
The previous law allowing for this presumption sunsetted on December 31, 2021, leaving 183,000 frontline workers without the guarantee of compensation in the event they contract COVID-19. The new bill would extend the presumption to Jan. 13, 2023. Since passage of the original law, 22,573 workers have received compensation under the presumption, totaling $20 million. During the lapsed time, over 2,000 frontline workers have contracted COVID-19.
Those workers impacted by this legislation include:
- Firefighters
- Peace and police officers
- Paramedics
- EMTs
- Health care providers, nurses or assistive employees in a health care, home care or long-term care setting who work with COVID-19 patients
- Nurses, health care workers, correctional officers or security counselors at correctional facilities
- Child care providers who are required to provide child care for the children of first responders and health care workers under executive orders
The Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council signed off on the extension on Tuesday. The Minnesota Senate approved the legislation earlier in the day, and following the House’s passage, the bill now heads to Governor Walz’s desk.
###